Remote Sensing Pedagogy and The Wilheit Curve

Chris Ruf

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

College of EngineeringDepartment of Atmospheric, Oceanic & Space

Sciences

IGARSS 2011Vancouver BC, CANADA

26 July 2011

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Motivation

• Teaching remote sensing, and thinking about how it works in general, can be facilitated by explaining and understanding a few critical things…– The Forward Model: How sensor observations are related to

geophysical parameters– The Sensitivity: How the observations respond to changes in

geophysical parameters of interest (e.g. dTB/dWindspeed)– The Sensor Design: How the sensitivity varies with the type

of observation (e.g. dTB/dWindspeed vs. freq,pol’z,θi)– The Inversion Algorithm: To unscramble the forward model

and estimate geophysical parameters from the observations, choose sensor channels with dissimilar sensitivities

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Statement of Problem

• How does one capture both the dependence of the observations on the geophysical parameters and the interdependence of that dependence, from one sensor channel to the next?

• Answer suggested in Wilheit, T. T.: A model for the microwave emissivity

of the ocean's surface as a function of wind speed. IEEE Trans. Geoscience Electronics, GE-17, 244-249, 1979.

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The Paper

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The Wilheit Curves

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Using the Curves as a Guide for Sensor Design

High clouds, moderate vapor

High vapor, moderate clouds

moderate vapor, moderate clouds

High wind, moderate SST

High SST, moderate wind

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Are There Equivalent “Wilheit Curves” For Other Design Problems?

• Example: How best to staff a remote sensing research project?

• Project Requirements– Definition of scientific problem– Execution of the project– Obtaining funding, interaction with users, community

outreach

• Parameterize the staff members and identify the sensitivity of the requirements to each type of staff

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Wilheit Curves forThe Human Touch in Project Staffing

DIPLOMATICTACTLESS NORMAL

Community Engagement (funding, outreach, etc.)

Definition ofProblem

ProjectExecution

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Optimized Staffing

• Obtaining funding, interaction with users, community outreach (highly tactful)– Chooses words carefully, thinks before talks, has some familiarity with the

problem

– e.g. Headquarters Program Manager• Execution of the project (moderately tactful)

– Clear and succinct communication skills, follows instructions well

– e.g. Engineering Support Team• Definition of the scientific problem (tactless)

– Understands the science, speaks their mind, has general disregard for others

– Any suggestions from the audience?